In order to understand the macroecological architecture of an amphibian metacommunity of a large southern European region located between the Eurosiberian and Mediterranean domains (Galicia), we analyzed nestedness from matrices of presence–absence of 14 species in 3,627 water points, including both ponds and streams, along an altitudinal gradient (0–2,036 m), during a 11-yr period (2003–2013).  Leer más.

In this study, we aimed to understand the contemporary and ancient colonization routes of the Moorish gecko, Tarentola mauritanica, using simple sequence repeats (SSRs). By analyzing the genetic diversity of populations in different regions, we found that Morocco is the genetic diversity hotspot for the species, followed by the Iberian Peninsula.  Leer más.

Our findings, therefore, suggest that species distributions in this contact zone are mainly determined by the environmental conditions, with almost no contribution of competitive pressure. Still, a localized competition might exist due to minor differences in the ecological niches and a marked and unequal reduction of suitable areas for the sympatric populations, which could be favouring V. aspis in small regions of the contact zone. Leer más.

Here we provide an overview of the European vertebrate species of greatest toxicological interest, the clinical manifestations their toxins can cause, and their treatment. We report the clinical symptoms induced by envenomations and poisoning caused by reptiles, fishes, amphibians and mammals in Europe, ranging from mild, local symptoms (e.g., erythema, edema) to systemic and potentially deadly. Leer más.

We found that body temperature reflected substrate temperatures, and that the proportion of melanistic coloration has no influence on heating or cooling rates or on color changes. These findings suggest that, in E. macularius, melanistic coloration may not be used for thermoregulation. Leer más.